DB dept. ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

Reviewing the 2015 New York Jets season, position by position:

Position: Secondary

Overall grade: B+

Individual grades: Darrelle Revis A-, Marcus Williams B+, Calvin Pryor B+, Marcus Gilchrist B, Buster Skrine B-, Antonio Cromartie C, Rontez Miles C, Darrin Walls C, Dion Bailey C, Dexter McDougle C, Dee Milliner Incomplete, Jaiquawn Jarrett Incomplete.

Key number: 2 -- the number of receiving touchdowns by opposing tight ends. In 2014, the Jets allowed a league-high 14 tight-end touchdowns.

Summary: The secondary wasn't dominant, as some predicted, but it still was the team's most improved position group. That's what you'd expect after a $150 million spending spree. The Jets finished first in completion percentage, fifth in interceptions, seventh in yards-per-attempt and 13th in passing yards allowed. It was far from perfect -- they still allowed virtually the same amount of passing yards as 2014 -- but they made more plays and reduced the yards-per-attempt number by a half-yard.It was a very good, if not vintage year for Revis, who made five interceptions and led cornerbacks league-wide in completion percentage (46.5), according to Pro Football Focus. He made his seventh Pro Bowl, deservedly so. Sub-par games against DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins, two of the top young receivers, kept Revis from his usual super-elite level. Cromartie rallied after a bad start, but he still wound up surrendering seven touchdown passes, per PFF. He didn't have an interception for the first time since his rookie year, 2006. He took chances, perhaps trying to compensate for an injury, and he got burned on double moves.

Pryor was the most improved player on the team, maturing on and off the field. Used primarily in the box, the former first-round pick made his presence felt with a rock 'em-sock 'em mentality. Just ask Rishard Matthews. Gilchrist was the quarterback of the secondary, providing a stabilizing presence in the deep middle. Never known as a ballhawk, he recorded a career-high three interceptions. Skrine was a significant upgrade over Kyle Wilson in the slot, but he didn't have a great year in coverage. He also led the defense with seven penalties. The biggest surprise was Williams, who led the team with six interceptions -- one every 48 defensive snaps. That's a crazy ratio. Miles came off the practice squad to help when injuries started to hit, showing he can play in the league.

Playing-time percentages (based on 1,056 snaps): Gilchrist 99, Cromartie 85, Revis 84, Skrine 69, Pryor 68, Williams 27, Miles 12, Walls 11, Bailey 9, McDougle 5, Jarrett 1, Milliner 0.

PT analysis: Gilchrist missed only five snaps, so kudos to him. Skrine played through injuries to finish with a starter's share of playing time. The number that jumps off the screen is Milliner's playing time. The former first-rounder was active for five games after coming off injured reserve, but he didn't play a single defensive snap. He was used exclusively on special teams.

>     http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58039/jets-secondary-big-names-big-contracts-and-big-improvement

[CrazyCarl40]

Skrine and Cro are given grades they didn't earn. Skrine was a liability in coverage. Cro did get better as the year went along, but he's still lost a step. I know the staff loves him, but he needs to be cut not restructured. They can do better for less money. Skrine's contract is not good either for a nickle corner who is better than Kyle Wilson, but not by much.